After the fourth day of competition, everyone eagerly awaited the announcement of the final list of top 32 contestants.
Most people stayed indoors, glued to their TVs, waiting for the results. Ash, Misty, and Brock were no different, as they sat in the lobby of the Pokémon Center, eyes fixed on the big screen, waiting for the list to appear.
Ash scanned the room, hoping to catch sight of Gary. But whether it was because of the crowd or because Gary wasn't there, Ash couldn't find him anywhere.
"Here it comes!" someone shouted from across the room, and suddenly, the entire hall erupted in noise. The list of the top 32 had been released, filling the big screen with names and schedules.
Ash quickly found his name in Match A3—the third battle on the first day. His opponent wasn't the familiar Ritchie, but a Trainer named Lizzy. Judging by the name, Ash guessed she was a girl.
"I've never heard of her," Ash muttered, scanning the other names. He noticed Jason was in Match A7, while Gary was scheduled for Match B5. Apart from them, none of the other names stood out.
"So you're in the third match tomorrow..." Misty observed, leaning in to see the screen better. "And Lizzy... Is she from Celadon City?"
Brock perked up at the mention of Lizzy's name, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Oh, yeah, Lizzy! I remember her. She's from Celadon's Girls' Town. I've seen her compete before."
Misty raised an eyebrow. "You know her?" she asked, surprised. "How could you know about so many contestants from all over the place?"
"Well... she's really beautiful," Brock admitted with a sheepish grin. "I may have paid extra attention to her matches..." His grin widened as he thought of Lizzy's elegant appearance.
"Ugh, that's so creepy, Brock," Misty said, clearly unimpressed. She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, not bothering to hide her disgust.
"Now that we know who you're up against, let's check her battle records. It's better to be prepared than surprised," Misty suggested, turning to Ash.
"Yeah, good idea," Ash agreed. The trio headed back to their dormitory, where they could research more about Lizzy.
Meanwhile, across town, Gary was having dinner at a local restaurant. He glanced up at the big screen, which displayed the battle list.
His eyes focused on Ash's name, and a wave of determination surged through him. He sighed, disappointed that he wouldn't be facing Ash just yet.
"We'll meet soon, Ash," Gary muttered to himself, his competitive spirit pushing him to eat faster.
He was eager to get back to training, hoping to gain whatever advantage he could before the next match.
Back in the dorm, Ash, Misty, and Brock sat around the computer, looking up Lizzy's information.
"Lizzy... a Trainer from Celadon City's Girls' Town," Brock said, reading from the screen. Girls' Town was a part of Celadon City and had a reputation for producing talented Trainers. Even Erika, the Celadon City Gym Leader, hailed from there.
Lizzy's profile picture showed a girl with long dark purple hair, wearing a red kimono, exuding elegance.
"She specializes in Bug- and Grass-Type Pokémon," Brock continued. "Looks like she favors those types, which means Flying- and Fire-Type moves would be effective against her."
"That should give Ash an edge," Misty noted confidently. "With your Charizard and Pikachu, this battle should be a breeze!"
"Don't get too cocky, though," Brock warned. "Lizzy made it through the four qualifying rounds, which means she probably has strategies to counter those weaknesses. We shouldn't underestimate her."
Ash nodded. "I'll be careful," he promised, though inwardly he felt confident. This didn't seem like an opponent who would pose too much of a challenge.
"But... Ash," Brock suddenly said, his tone pleading. "Try not to crush her too badly, okay? I don't want to see Lizzy's beautiful face filled with despair!"
"I'll do my best..." Ash replied, giving Brock a hesitant smile. He wasn't sure how to promise something like that.
Misty, on the other hand, shot Brock an exasperated look. "You're hopeless."
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The next day, Ash woke up early, had a quick breakfast, and made his way to Quartz Stadium. Although it was only 7:30 a.m., the stadium was already packed with spectators.
The roar of the 68,000-strong crowd was deafening, making the air buzz with excitement.
Inside the Red Player's Waiting Room, Ash sat quietly, mentally preparing himself for the battle ahead.
Misty and Brock had gone to the audience, where they managed to snag seats near the front, offering them a perfect view of the battlefield.
As Ash waited for his match, the announcer kicked off the event with a few warm-up activities.
The massive screens around the stadium displayed highlight reels from the qualifiers, including clips of Ash and Gary's matches. The audience erupted into cheers whenever either of them appeared on screen.
At exactly 8 a.m., the announcer introduced the first match. Two Trainers emerged from opposite tunnels, greeted by the enthusiastic applause of the audience. They stepped onto the battlefield, ready for the intense battle that would follow.
The first match of the day set a high bar. Both Trainers had Pokémon at the Silver level, and the battle that followed was fierce.
By the end, the Trainer on the Green Team secured a hard-fought victory, advancing to the top 16.
As the first battle concluded, the construction crew quickly moved in to repair the battlefield.
Rumour had it that starting next year, Indigo Stadium would upgrade to cutting-edge technology, which would eliminate the need for venue repairs mid-tournament.
The second match was a slower, more tactical battle, with both Trainers focusing on defense and counterattacks.
It took over half an hour for the match to end, with the Blue Team emerging victorious.
"Come on, Ash's match is next!" Misty said excitedly, leaning forward in her seat.
In Pallet Town, Delia and the others were also watching the live broadcast, eagerly awaiting Ash's battle.
Everyone who had battled Ash, as well as those who might face him later, watched closely, hoping to learn something from his upcoming match.
Gary, too, had stopped his training early to make it to the stadium. He didn't want to miss the chance to see Ash in action.
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